Your LVAD Passport to the World: Globetrotter’s Guide to International Travel with a Heartmate 3

Living with a Heartmate 3 LVAD is a bit like having a high-tech superpower. It keeps you going, but it also comes with its own set of rules. One of those rules shouldn’t be “stay home.” The world is a big, beautiful place, and with the right plan, you can explore it safely and confidently.

This guide is your new travel companion. We’ve done the heavy lifting to create a directory of international medical centers that have the know-how to support you and your LVAD. Think of it as a pre-vetted list of “safe harbors” around the globe, empowering you to turn that dream trip into a reality.

Why This Guide Is Your New Best Friend 🤖

Your Heartmate 3 is a marvel of engineering, but it’s not something the average emergency room is equipped to handle. You need a specialized pit crew—cardiac surgeons, heart failure cardiologists, and VAD coordinators—who know your device inside and out.

So, how did we find these places?

Using a two-level check:

1. Highest Confidence: We prioritized hospitals that were official participants in the clinical trials for the Heartmate 3. These places have hands-on, foundational experience with your specific device.
2. High Confidence: We also included major national heart centers with large, public VAD programs. Given the Heartmate 3’s role as a leading device, it’s a near certainty these hubs have the expertise you need.

A quick note: The official Abbott Find a Clinic tool is fantastic, but it’s for the US only. This guide was built specifically to fill that international gap, giving you a resource you can’t find anywhere else.

Your Pre-Flight Checklist: The Smart Traveler’s Protocol

Think of this as your mission briefing. Following these steps transforms this guide from a simple list into a powerful safety plan. Always speak with your healthcare provider before making any travel plans.

Phase 1: Mission Planning (1-2 Months Before Travel)

• [ ] Team Huddle: Schedule a pre-travel planning session with your home LVAD team. They can advise you on managing your care while away and provide necessary documentation.
• [ ] Map Your Destination: Use this guide to pick a primary (and maybe a backup) medical center at your destination. If driving, locate VAD centers along your travel route as well.
• [ ] Make First Contact: Have your VAD coordinator call your chosen international center. Confirm they can support a traveling Heartmate 3 patient.
• [ ] Verify Your Coverage: Contact your health or travel insurance provider and get written confirmation of your coverage policies for your destination.

Phase 2: Final Preparations (2-4 Weeks Before Travel)

• [ ] Send Your Itinerary: Forward your travel dates and a medical summary to the international VAD team. Get a specific contact name and number for your trip.
• [ ] Get Your “Doctor’s Note”: Obtain a formal letter from your cardiologist detailing your condition and what to do in an emergency.
• [ ] Tech Check & Power Plan:
  • Inspect all your LVAD gear. Pack enough fully charged batteries, your Power Module or Mobile Power Unit, a backup controller, and all cables.
  • Critical Power Tip: Leaving the Power Module unplugged for a prolonged period (more than 18 hours) can cause its internal battery to fully discharge and become unable to recharge.
  • If traveling internationally, talk to your provider about the correct power cords and/or adapters you’ll need for foreign countries.
• [ ] Pack Your Meds:
  • Pack enough medication for the entire trip, plus an extra 1-week supply just in case.
  • Keep at least half of your medications and your written prescriptions in your carry-on bag so it’s always accessible.

Phase 3: Go Time! (1 Week Before Travel)

• [ ] Prepare Your Dossier: Create a travel folder (physical and digital) with your itinerary, doctor’s letter, patient handbook, important phone numbers, and key contact info.
• [ ] Pack Your Supplies: In your carry-on, pack all essential supplies, including exit site dressing components and a shower kit, if applicable.
• [ ] Pack Your Gear Safely: All LVAD equipment must be in your carry-on luggage. To prevent damage, consider using rigid-case luggage with foam inserts.
• [ ] Emergency Plan: Save the address and phone number of your destination hospital and VAD center in your mobile phone. Write it on a card to keep in your wallet.

Navigating the Journey: Tips for Different Travel Types

Flying

• Security Screening: This is critical. Do not go through airport metal detectors or body scanners, as they can interfere with your pump. You must show the security agent your device ID card and request a manual hand search.
• On the Plane: All your HeartMate™ equipment must be carried on the plane with you. Once you’re in the air, stay hydrated and move around as much as you can. Simple ankle rotations and leg movements while seated will help keep your blood circulating.

Driving (Car & RV)

• Airbag Safety: Avoid riding in the front seat of cars with airbags. The force from a deployed airbag could cause serious injury or bleeding.
• Getting Behind the Wheel: Your doctor will tell you when it is safe to drive, but typically you must wait at least 6-8 weeks after your surgery. Be aware that some states have laws restricting driving for people with histories of fainting or cardiac arrest.
• On the Road: Tell a friend or family member your travel route. Keep your cell phone charged and handy in case you need to call for support.

Cruising

• Medical Services: Before you book a cruise, ask if the ship has a doctor and other medical resources on board.
• Group Travel: Find out if the cruise line offers any group cruises specifically for people with implanted medical devices.

The Directory: LVAD-Ready Centers Across the Globe

Here are the top-tier medical centers with the expertise to support you. We’ve boiled down the key details to make them easy to scan.

🇪🇺 Part I: Europe

Europe offers robust and accessible options, especially in Germany, which was a hub for the development of the Heartmate 3.

• Germany: A world leader in cardiac care.
  • Deutsches Herzzentrum der Charité (DHZC), Berlin: A primary site for the Heartmate 3 clinical trial.
    • Contact: VAD Clinic at +49 30-4593-2222
  • Hannover Medical School (MHH), Hannover: The site of the world’s first-ever Heartmate 3 implant. They have the most experience on the planet.
    • Contact: Transplant/Artificial Heart Clinic at +49 511 532-6304
  • Heart and Diabetes Center NRW, Bad Oeynhausen: A key participant in the clinical trials.
    • Contact: VAD Clinic at +49 5731 97-1180
  • Heart Center Leipzig, Leipzig: Another clinical trial participant with a clearly identified VAD program lead.
    • Contact: Head of VAD Program at +49 341 865-256133
  • University Heart Center Freiburg, Freiburg: A clinical trial site that publicly confirms its use of the Heartmate 3.
    • Contact: Dept. of Cardiovascular Surgery at +49 761 270-28180
• United Kingdom: The NHS concentrates VAD services in a few elite centers.
  • Royal Papworth Hospital, Cambridge: A world-renowned specialist heart hospital and a designated national center for VADs.
    • Contact: Main Switchboard at +44 1223 638000 (ask for VAD coordinators).
  • Barts Heart Centre, London: The first UK hospital to pioneer LVADs for long-term “destination therapy.”
    • Contact: Main Switchboard (ask for the office of Dr. Martin Thomas or the VAD coordinator team).
  • Harefield Hospital, London: A leader in VAD technology for over 20 years.
    • Contact: Harefield Hospital Switchboard at +44 1895 823737 (ask for the VAD team).
• Austria & Czech Republic: Home to other key European centers from the clinical trials.
  • AKH Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria: A key participant in the Heartmate 3 trials.
    • Contact: Main Switchboard (ask for the “Klinik für Herzchirurgie” and then the “VAD-Koordinator”).
  • IKEM, Prague, Czech Republic: A clinical trial site and home of the world’s first less-invasive Heartmate 3 implantation.
    • Contact: Main Switchboard (ask for the “Klinika kardiovaskulární chirurgie” to be directed to VAD coordinators).

🌏 Part II: Asia-Pacific

This region boasts some of the most advanced healthcare systems in the world.

• Australia: Excellent medical standards and clear systems for international patients.
  • The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne: A confirmed participant in the Heartmate 3 trials since 2014.
    • Contact: VAD Clinic at +61 3 9076 3263
  • St Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney: A pioneer in Australian cardiac care and home to the National Heart Transplant Program.
    • Contact: Heart/Lung Clinic at +61 2 8382 3150
• Japan: Technologically sophisticated and highly specialized care.
  • The University of Tokyo Hospital, Tokyo: Features a dedicated “Advanced Medical Center for Heart Failure.”
    • Contact: Main Switchboard at +81 3-3815-5411 (ask for the Advanced Medical Center for Heart Failure).
  • Osaka University Hospital, Osaka: A key contributor to Japan’s national VAD registry (J-MACS) with specific research on Heartmate 3.
    • Contact: Main Switchboard (ask for the “Heart Center” or “Department of Cardiovascular Surgery”).
• Singapore: A premier global medical hub.
  • National Heart Centre Singapore (NHCS): The national specialty center with a dedicated destination LVAD program.
    • Contact: MCS/Transplant Unit at +65 6704 8130
• South Korea & Taiwan: Emerging leaders with top-ranked healthcare systems.
  • Samsung Medical Center (SMC), Seoul, South Korea: A clear leader in LVAD surgery in Korea with outstanding success rates.
    • Contact: Dept. of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery (ask for the VAD team).
  • National Taiwan University Hospital (NTUH), Taipei, Taiwan: Part of a system often ranked #1 in the world for healthcare.
    • Contact: Main Switchboard at +886-2-2312-3456 (ask for the Division of Cardiovascular Surgery).

🌎 Part III: The Americas (Non-USA)

• Canada: A network of world-class provincial heart centers.
  • Toronto General Hospital, Toronto, ON: A participant in the multinational ELEVATE registry for Heartmate 3.
    • Contact: Main Switchboard at +1 416-340-4800 (ask for the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre).
  • Foothills Medical Centre, Calgary, AB: Features a clearly defined VAD program offering the full spectrum of support.
    • Contact: VAD Clinic at +1 403-944-5135
  • St. Paul’s Hospital, Vancouver, BC: The single designated center for all VAD implantations for the entire province of British Columbia.
    • Contact: Heart Function Clinic at +1 604-806-8602

Your Journey Awaits

And there you have it—your globetrotter’s toolkit for exploring the world with confidence. Your Heartmate 3 is a masterpiece of engineering that gives you the incredible gift of each new day. Think of this guide as its trusted co-pilot, designed to handle the navigation so you can focus on the destination. Between the pre-flight checklist and this directory of vetted medical centers, you are no longer just dreaming about travel; you’re planning it.

While this guide is your map, your home LVAD team is your mission control. They are, and always will be, your most important partner in planning any journey. Before you book a single ticket, sit down with them, share your plans, and build a strategy together. Their expertise, combined with your preparation, is the key to a safe and successful trip.

The world is full of amazing sights, sounds, and experiences. With the right preparation, there’s no reason you can’t be out there enjoying them. Pack smart, plan ahead, and travel well.

Happy globetrotting!